No matter where you live, damage to your doors can occur due to overexposure to sunlight. Warping and splintering are the main signs to look for if you’re concerned about sunlight damage. Here’s our quick guide to how direct sunlight can damage your front door.
How Direct Sunlight Damages Your Front Door
The reason your door appears warped or discolored may be due to exposure to the sun. When your front door faces a well-lit area, UV rays can slowly damage the wood by cracking and splintering it. This causes the door to warp, and it can also cause metal frames to become too hot to touch. Splintering and warping may happen because of the different humidity cycles, to which wooden doorframes are more susceptible. Since wooden doorframes don’t have the room to move while transitioning through the seasons, they splinter and crack more often. Depending on your door’s material, damage can also happen to any door that’s not properly protected and that receives overexposure to the sun.
How To Avoid Sunlight Damage to Your Front Door
The best way to avoid damage from the sun is by building an awning to block the sun’s rays from hitting your door. If an awning isn’t in the budget, try landscaping. Start by planting trees to create some shade around your door. Trees are great for blocking sunlight and keeping your home cool. You can also place reflective film over your door.
How To Cool Down Your Front Door
If you have an exposed door, you can cool it down before any damage strikes. When you get hot, you immediately run for shade, and that’s what you need to do with your door. Replace your doorframe with an insulated one, as it can add more benefits than simply preventing damage—insulated doorframes are built well from strong materials, and they save on energy costs and even offer better security measures when you’re away from home.
How To Fix a Sun-Damaged Door
If the sun has weathered your front door, there’s still time to save it. With the hot Florida heat, finding the right solution can be difficult, but you can simply use door wax to fix any damage. Wax will protect the wood stain on your door from more sun damage. First, you’ll need to wipe the door down with a cloth; then, you can apply the wax to the damaged areas as a precaution. Also, consider painting over the door with heat-resistant paint, which can combat harmful UV rays in the future.
Now that you know how direct sunlight can damage your front door, continue to check your door for any potential damage. By doing this, you’ll ensure your door remains in the best condition possible. If you’re looking to update your door, make sure to upgrade to a material that can better withstand direct sunlight.